Fruit and vegetable packing machine



May s, 192s.. 1,668,837

M .E. AVERA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PACKING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ" May 8, 1928. 1,668,837

M. E. AVERA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PACKING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m Z144 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented' May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES A MARVIN n. AVERA, oF TAMPA, FLORIDA.

. FRUIT ANI), VEGETABLE ACKING MACHINE.

Application led June 29, 1927. SerialNo. 202,398.

The inventionrelates to the packing art' and has special reference to `the packing of` fruits, vegetables and similar commodities in receptacles or containers :for transporta! tion or storage.

The principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a machine lfor facilitating the handling of shipping receptacles or containers during theoperation of `filling and otherwise preparing them for subsequent treatment. i Y

It is well known that in accordance with modern systems of handling more or less perishable commodities, the articles are packed or iilled Within containers or receptacles such as boxes, baskets and crates and it is customary, or at least a `common habit among growers and packers, to place a layer ot select fruit, vegetables or the like at the top for display purposes so that the goods will have a` highly attractive appearance when the cover is removed from the container. The usualmethod of packing is to place a layer of fruit, most attractive side down, upon a support uponV which is set a retainer which maybe a metalshell or a liner termed ot cardboard or some other suitable cheapmaterial and of asize to t Within a shipping container such as a box, basket or crate. The ordinary run of fruit or other commodity is then poured, packed or other-` wise' placed within this shell or liner, and

after the same is filled to its capacity the box, crate or basket isplaced thereover 1n inverted position. The next step is to invert Ehe assembly so as tobring it into anormal or upright position with the open side at the top. It a metal shell is used itis then re? moved, and if a liner is employed it may be tra lett in place or removed at the option of the packer and,4 regardless of which of these plans is adopted, a cover is then placed over the open side and secured in some suitablel manner. It is usually the practice to shake the support and retainer thereon either during` or after the filling `operation'forthe purpose of effecting settling. This shaking step and the turning of the inverted filled container into anormalor upright position `has ordinarily requiredmanual labor which is very fatiguing and more or lessslovv and accompanied by a certai'nlainount of risk of dropping the filled container and consequently bruising the `fruit for vegetables with the possible result-that the goods may be unmarketabla y It is with theabove facts in view that I have designed the present invention whichl has for anv object the provision ot' a machine by means ot which the above described operation may be carried out mechanicallyinstead of by entirely manual means, it being :further contemplated that power mechanism might be provided for performing some ofthe more arduous steps. i

An important object ofthe invention is to provide a machine of such construction as to hold `a support and retainer, either a shell or liner, thereon during filling thereof with fruit or other similar articles `and provided with means for clamping andV supporting a basket or crate, or similar container, placed overvand about the filled retainer, the 1nachine being moreover provided with means whereby the lilled retainer may be shaken to eiii'ect settling duringtheiilling action and the entire assembly turned over ready for heading or covering.

A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character having `novel means for clamping and holding a container during` the inverting step and means whereby not only vertical reciprocation may be imparted to the clamp carrier for eil'ecting settling ot the packed articles, but also whereby the carrier may be .swung laterally tofacilitate depositing the filled container onto a conveyor or chute.

Still another Vobject'of the invention is to providea machine of this character in which the containerholder may be adjusted to a desired heightabove the floor or other support to suit the convenience of the operator, depending upon his stature. Y

Anotherspecificobject is to provide a maf chine` ofthis character in which most ofthe partsmay be formed of pipe sections together with ordinary ttings therefor, `the purpose being to obtain strength and rigidityY with comparatively little weight.

parts being, moreover, related in such man-` nerand provided with such adjustments `as `The invention further contemplates y the to meet any and all conditions which may exist or circumstances that may arise.

An additional object or the invention is to provide a machine of this character which Will be simple and inexpensive to manutacture, easy to set up and operate, positive in action, eiiicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of tlief'oregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the detailsy of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on theline 2--2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the container support and clamp, i

Figure l4 is a bottom plan View thereof,

Figure 5 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l,

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 6-6 of F igurel, and

Figure 7 is a detail cross section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 1.

(Referring more particularly to the draW- ings I have shown the device as comprising a stationary upright support 1 of any desired length and ot suitable size and material. In actual practice this support may conveniently be formed as a length of pipe and it may be mounted in any desired inanner as for example by having its lower end engaged Within a socket 2 in or upon the floor 3 or other support, and its upper end engaged through or otherwise connected With a beam, bracket or the like indicated The lrelatively Vmovable portion of the mechanism is here represented as comprising aV carriage indicated generally by the numeral 5 upon which is mounted the means indicated at 6 for holding and handling the retaining shell or liner 7 here represented as the latter. The carriage 5 is intended to Vslide vertically upon the'stationa'ry support 1 and While it may be constructed in any one or several ways, it is here disclosed as comprising a T 8 with the opposite sides of which fare connected pipe sections or tubular members 9 slidable upon the member 1, the carriage further including a tubular member or pipe 'section l() extending horizontally from and connected with Vthe T, the member 1() constituting a bearing andv support 'ter an arm 11 forming part of the holding and clanipingineans 6 and likewise conveniently constructed as a suitable length of pipecarrying ay T 12 with which is connected a pipe section 13 or its equivalent serving'as a handle for effecting rotation of the arm 11 during the carrying out of the operation of packing the retainer 7. The device 6 further includes a horizontally extending arm 14 connected with the arm 11 in some suitable manner as for instance by means of the elbow 15 and short pipe section 1G illustrated, the latter being connected with the T 412 In order that the retaining shell or liner 7 and the container 17 to be placed thereover in a certain stage in the operation may be supported properly, I provide a pan 18 upon the arm 14 and secured thereto in some suitable manner. The an is represented as being of circular form inasmuch as the container to be filled in the present instance is shown as a round basket but it should be distinctly understood that in case the intention 1s to pack receptacles of a different type, such as a box or crate,'the pan would necessarily be of corresponding shape. However, this detail, though mentioned, is not believed to be one of any material importance. Regardless of the question of shape, the pan is preferably provided at its periphery with a flange or ring portion 19 which may be integral with the bottom or formed separately therefrom and attached thereto', lall such variations being of course within the scope of the invention. means for mounting the pan upon the arm 14: may consist of a securing element such as a bolt 2() passing through the arm and having a curved shape so as to pass likewise through the flange or ring 19. In addition to this If preferably provide a transverse bracket-like member 21 having a. saddle por` tion 22 embracing the arm and fastened thereto as by a bolt or thelike 23, the ends of this bracket member being verticall 'eX- tended and riveted or otherwise suitab y secured to the yflange or ring'19 as at 24. To provide additional holding means I may Vemploy a bolt 25 passing through the inember 16 and ring or flange 19, a spacing sleeve 26 being interposed for maintaining lthe pan in the proper relation to the other parts.

As stated above, the pan 18 is intended to serve asa support for aretaining shell or liner, as the case may be, and it is the intention that the flange or ring 19 extend upwardly beyond the top of the pan so as to retain such al Vshell or liner in position. As additional guide means for reducing likelihood of the shell or linerbeing pushed too i'ar or off from the pan when initially placed iii-position thereon, Inlay provide upstanding guides 27 suitably mounted on the flange as indicated in Figure 1. Y

As the intention is to invert theV container which is placed over the retainerV after filling of the latter, it becomes necessary 4to provide some means for positively holding the container during'the inverting step. As a consequence, I provide a clamping device Iwhich is here represented as including a. con- Tlie lli

. supported on the pan 18, I providea lock-` ing means which may conveniently com-l tractile ring structure indicated generally at 28 and including arcuate sections 29 Vand 30 hinged at S31-upon leavesor plate elements 32 secured in some suitable manner to the T 12. The section is disclosed. as formed of two sections or parts 33 .and 34hinged or pivoted together at 35. The means for contracting this clamping ring 4'structure about the container preferably includes a lever 36 pivoted at 37 upon the sectionor part 34 and having pivoted theretoat 38 a link 39 having a slotted or hooked end 40 cooperatively engaging the correspondingly hooked or slotted end 4110i the section 29 as clearly illustrated in Figure 3.V F or holding the lever 36 in dependin position With the clamp in contracted re ation, I have shown ak headed keeper 42mounted on the ring 19 and engaged Within a notch 43 in one edge ot' the lever 36. To :tacilitatemanipulation the lever is shown as equipped with a handle 44. For bracing the section 29 of the clamping member for preventing it fromdropping dovvn prior to the tightening oi' the clamp, it may be equipped at one side With adepending latch 45 terminating in a hook 46 engaging with a headed stud 47 or the like projecting from the flange or ring 19.`

The entire assembly 6 is intended to be rotatable with respect to the carriage` of which it forms a part and for this `reason the arm 11 is rotatably mounted within the tubular member 10. Furthermore the intention is that the arm 11 be extensible with respect to the tubular member. The rotar movement may be prevented at times by mea-ns to be described but even when pei mitted it is intended to be limited as by means of a bolt 48 engageable Within aselected one of a plurality of holes 49 in the arm 11 and extending through a slot 50 1n the member V10, the ends of the slot being engageable by the bolt for the purpose of limiting the movement of the entire supporting structure 6 in both directions. Clearly, the provision of` the holes 49 will permit the desired degree of extension of the arm 11.`

In order to hold the structure 6 against movement, as when filling a shell `orliner prise an elongated loop or'link 51 engaged about the member 10 andhaving a linger'52 thereon passing through a hole 53` in the member 10 and engaging Within a selected one of a plurality of holes 54 in the arm 11. Clearly, the adjustment of this locking member must correspond With the` adjustment of` the bolt 48 and it is evident that when the locking member has the vfinger 52engaged through onev ofthe holes 54 and the hole 53 the `arm 11 `Will be held Vstationary .With respect to the membeil 10, it being `necessary. to lift the link or loop to withdravsl the hnger 52 from the hole 54V Within which it is engaged whenever itis desired to rotate. the supporting structure 6 for the purpose of inverting thecont-ainer placed over the filled shell or liner.` Oil course the lever 13 is for the purpose of effecting the inverting move-` ment. y

. After such a shell or liner has been filled or is `being filled it is desirable to shake or jolt it or its support for the purpose of causing the Itruit, vegetables or other commodity to settle so that the shell or liner may be filled :to the maximum extent.' F or this reason I have provided means whereby the carriage 5may be reciprocated vertically, the means being conveniently a lever structure 55 mounted on the stationary support 1 and operatively connected with thev carriage. In the present instance this means is shown in detailas, comprising an .elongated hand lever `56, which may be a section of pipe se` `other flexible member 61 is shown as connected With theplate or bar members 58 and With a bolt or other securing element 62 at the .upper end of the uppermost tubular member 9. A stop collar 63 may be provided on the post or support 1 for maintaining the carriage at a certain normal position.

y Obviously, by grasping the' hand lever 56 and alternately pulling it down and permitting it to reascend the carriage 5 and all the parts supported therefrom will be moved up Aand down to shake the articlesY in the shell or container. f

. When itis desired to hold the carriage stationary at a level other than its lowest position withV the lower member 9 in engagement with the `stop collar 53, this may be Y accomplished-by means of the latch device I have provided, this latch device including an elongated latch element 64 pivoted at 65 at its upper end and having its lower end formed with a reduced extension or toe 66 engageable Within a selected one of a pluality of openings 67 inthe upright memer 1. A .Y `In the use of the device, theinitial position` of the parts is such that the carriage is with the assembly 6 arranged with the pan 18 lowern'iostVand the lever 13 extending vertically. The lever 36gis of course disengaged from the keeper 42 and the link 39 disengaged from the hooked or slotted end 41 of the clamp section29 so that the clamp may be opened and be disposed in nonoo i los

preferably in the lowermost desired position obstructing relation to the pan. The operatorthen places uponthe pan the shell or line-r 7 to be filledwith Whatever commodity is to be prepared for shipment. A layer ot select articles is then packed carefully by hand upon the pan, subsequently to which the remaining fruit, vegetables or the like may be dumped, poured or otherwise placed within the shell or liner. Either during or after this filling operation the operator grasps the lever 56 and moves it alternately up and down to reciprocate the carriage and jar or shake the articles to eiiect settling thereof. During these operations it is intended that the link or loop 5l be disposed with its finger 52 in locking engagement with the tubular member l0 andarm 11 for the purpose of preventing any accidental turning ot the sul'iportiug structure 6. The liner or shell having been thus filled, the operator places thereover the container 1T in inverted position and aiter this the sections 29 and 30 ot the clamp are swung toward each other, the hooked end 4:0 oi the link 39 engaged with the hooked or slotted end of the clamp section 2i) and the lever 36 moved lto engage the notch 43 therein with the keeper 42 so as to hold the clamp in firm embracing engagement upon the container. The operator then litts the link or loop 5l into its released position and, grasping the lever 13, rotates the structure 6 to invert it so that the container 17 will be disposed in normal or upright position, in which it may be locked by engaging the finger 52 in the proper one ot a second series of holes 54' located diametrically opposite the holes 54. Clearly, there should be some type of support located at a convenient point upon which the filled container may then be deposited. Inasmuch as the entire carriage structure 5 is rotatable with respect to the post or upright l this support maybe located at some distance away so that when the entire carriage is swung in an arc the filled container will be brought over Whatover support is provided. In case the work is done on a large scale it is obvious that a travelling conveyor may constitute the support though in a smaller plant it is apparent that it may consist simply of some stationary device. Regardless of this detail, it will be seen that when the filled container is in proper position over whatever support is provided. the lever 36 is disengaged from the keeper 42 to release the clamping action so that the'link 39 may be released and the clamp opened out of engagement With the container. The lever 56 may then be pulled down to lift the carriage and the supporting pan and clamp structure carried thereby to a sufficient height to clear the container, after which the carriage is swung back to its original position and the structure 6 returned to normal ready for the next filling operation.

It the retainer i consists ot' a metal or other shell of a permanent nature, such shell shouldthen be Withdrawn from about the fruit or vegetables Within the container, but if the retainer consists merely of a. cardboard or other similar liner it may be left in the container and will actually be ot' benefit inasmuch as it will serve to cushion the commodity and prevent bruising thereof during shipment. Regardless of which type of retainer is used the cover, of any suitable kind desired is placed upon and secured to the container which is then ready for ship-l ment. i f From the foregoing description and a study oi the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply con' structed and very easily operated device which will be a great saver of time and labor in the packing of fruit, vegetables and other articles in containers such as are in popular use. Ample provision has been made for any and all adjustments which may be found desirable. It is believed that all the details ot construction and the operation. will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without ifm-ther explanation.

While I haveV shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an cxemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability ot the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit ot the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. In a packing machine of the character described, an upstanding stationary support, a carriage vertically slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, and a combined supporting and clamping devicerotatably mounted upon and forming part ot' ythe carriage.

2. In a packing machine of the character described, an upstanding stationary support, a carriage vertically slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, a combined supporting and clamping device rotatably mounted upon and forming part of the carriage, and means for locking said supporting and clamping device against 'movement 3. In a packing machine of the character described, anupstanding stationary support, a carriage vertically slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, a combined supporting and clamping device rotatably mounted upon and forming part of the carriage, and Vmeans connected with the carriage for rreciprocating the same upon said stationary support.

4. In a packingr machine'of the character described, an upstandingI stationary support, a carriage vertically slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, a combined supporting and clamping device rotatably mounted upon and forming part of the carriage, and a lever device pivoted upon said stationary support and connected with the carriage for moving the same vertically upon the support.

5. In a packing machine of the character described, an upstanding stationary support, a carriage vertically slidably and rotatably mounted thereon, al combined supporting and clamping device rotatably mounted upon and forming part of the carriage, a lever device pivoted upon said stationary support and connected with the carriage for moving the same vertically upon vthe support, and latch means connected with said lever and cooperating with the stationary support for holding the carriage in a vertically adjusted position.

6. In a packing machine of 'the character described, a stationary upstanding support, a carriage mounted thereon, a combined supporting and clamping device, andan arm carried by said combined supporting and clamping device and rotatably mounted in the carriage, and means for limiting rotata` ble movement of the arm with respect to the carriage.

7. In a packing machine of the character described, a stationary upsta'nding support, a carriage mounted thereon, a combined supporting and clamping device, and an arm carried by said combined supporting and clamping device and rotatably mounted in the carriage, means for limiting rotatable movement of thearm with respect to the carriage, and means cooperatingvwith the carriage and arm for locking the latter'against rotation.

8. In a packing machine ot the character described, a stationary upstanding support, a. carriage mounted thereon, a combined supporting and clamping device, and an arm varried by said combined supporting and clamping device and rotatably mounted in the carriage, means tor limiting rotatable `moven'ient of the arm with respect to the carriage, and means cooperating with the carriage and arm for locking `the latter against rotation, said limiting means and said locking means being adjustable longi tudinally ot' the arm for permitting extenn sion or retraction thereof With respect to the carriage. n

9. In a packing machine of the character described, a stationary upstanding support, a carriage mounted thereon, and a combined supporting and clamping device rotatably mounted on the carriage and including a pan and a separable clamp in spaced rela tion thereto.

l0. In a packing machine of the character described, a stationary support, a carriage mounted thereon and including a tubular bearing member, and a combined supporting and clamping device rotatably mounted With respect to the carriage and including a lever, a. suporting arm carried by the lever, a secont arm having limited rotatable movement Within said bearing member, 'a aan mounted on said first named arm, and a clamp carried by the leverand spaced from said pan.

11. In a packing machine oit the character de'fcribed, a stationary support, a carriage mounted thereon and including a tubular bearing member, and a combined supporting and clamping device rotatably mounted with respect to the carriage and including alever, a supporting arm carried bythe lever, a second arm having limited' rotatable movement AWithin said bearing member, a pan mounted on said first named arm, a clamp carried by the lever and spaced from said pan, the clamp including pivoted sections, means for connecting the sections, and a contracting lever connected with said connecting means for urging the clamping sections together.

12. In a machine of the character de` scribed, the combination of an upstanding stationary support, a carriage rotatable and slidable thereon, meansmounted on the carriage and having limited rotary movement With respect thereto, said means being adapted to support a retainer and container, and means adjacent said means for clamping a container.`

13. In a packing machine of the character described,V the combination ot stationary supporting means, movable supporting means slidable and sivingable with respect to the stationary supporting means and enibodying an invertible combined support and clamp. p lll. In a scribed, the combination ot a stationary supporting means, movable means rotatable and slidable with respect to the stationary means and embodying supporting and clamping means, means for holding said last named means stationary with .respect to the second named means, and means for effecting inversion of the last named means with respect to the second named means.

In testimonywhereof I aliix my signature.

. MARVIN E. Avana.

machine ott the character de-l 

